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CH. VIII.] TOMBS OF MILMERIDIEN. 321 



morning, and tliey accompanied us on our route. As we 

 passed a burial-ground, called by tbem " Milmeridien," I 

 rode to examine it, and on reaching the spot, these natives 

 became silent and held down their heads. Nor did their 

 curiosity restrain them from passing on, although I un- 

 folded my sketch-book which they had not seen before, 

 and remained there half an hour, for a purpose of which 

 they could have had no idea. The burying-ground was a 

 fairy-like spot, in the midst of a scrub of drooping acacias. 

 It was extensive, and laid out in walks, which were 

 narrow and smooth, as if intended only for " sprites;" and 

 they meandered in gracefully curved lines, among the heaps 

 of reddish earth, which contrasted finely with the acacias 

 and dark casuaringe around. Others gilt with moss shot far 

 into the recesses of the bush, where slight traces of still more 

 ancient graves, proved the antiquity of these simple but 

 touching records of humanitj'. With all our art, we could 

 do no more for the dead, than these poor savages had done. 

 As we approached Nyingan we crossed a plain, on which we 

 killed a kangaroo, which afforded a seasonable supply, for 

 our stock of pork was nearly exhausted ; and two men were 

 now so ill as to require to be carried in the light covered 

 waggon. We encamped at Nyingan, near a large pond of 

 water. 



Aug. 29. — One of the bullocks had sunk in the mud while 

 drinking at the pond, and when at length it was drawn out, 

 it was so weak as to be unable to stand. I therefore halted 

 this day, in hopes he would recover before next morning. 

 Our friends, the blacks, had been rather forward during the 

 night, and throughout this day, they lay about my tent point- 

 ing to their empty stomachs, and behaving in a contemptuous 

 manner, although we had given them most of our kangaroo. 

 At length, I determined to send them off, if this could 

 be done, without quarrelling with them. I directed 

 Burnett, to take some men with fixed bayonets, and march 

 in line towards them. This move answered very well, the 

 natives receded to a distance, perfectly understanding our 



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